Reprisal in Black

by Dan Fox

  ‘No, please’ said a petrified Amanda, ‘I was not here by choice, the man is an animal. He forced me to live here and told me he’d find and kill me if I left. I was too scared to go. If I didn’t do everything he wanted he’d beat and whip me.’ The strong tears ran down her face smudging her mascara until she looked a real mess. ‘Look’ she said and turned slightly in the chair lifting her blouse at the back. Steve could see the whip welts. Many had broken the skin and lines of scabs ran across her back. He was really glad he’d shot Banks in the stomach rather than between the eyes.

  Steve heard Police sirens approaching, getting louder. Maybe someone had seen Pinky and Perky bound up from the window. Maybe Amanda had flicked the alarm. Who knows?

  ‘I gotta go. You tell the cops you didn’t see me. Tell the cops the guys downstairs are escaped murderers, okay?’ She nodded. ‘Sorry I have to do this, just play dead for a while.’ He tossed the five thousand dollars to her and she put it inside her blouse. Then he whacked the gun across the side of her head above the hairline. It would hurt a little and bleed a lot but wouldn’t do any lasting damage. She fell to the floor, stunned.

  Steve ran into the kitchen, threw the window open and jumped across to the outbuilding, twisting his ankle on landing. He cursed and dropped of the flat roof into the rear alley and carefully made his way back to the car trying to ignore the increasing pain. He drove off slowly not wishing to draw any attention and got as far away from the scene as he could. Three miles away he checked his ankle. It hurt like hell and was swelling badly. He daren’t take his boot off as he wouldn’t get it back on again. This was going to need rest and a lot of ice, but he was pretty sure there were no broken bones.

  He called Janice to tell her the situation and said he’d be there within half an hour or so, neglecting to mention the injured ankle. When he finally and painfully got to her place, he was sweating hard with the exertion. She noticed him limping, helped him in, and lay him down on the sofa. She took off his boot and sock and went to find ice and a towel. A few moments later Steve’s elevated foot was bound in a towel full of ice and it had stopped swelling up and didn’t hurt quite so much anymore.

  Janice fussed over him. There was a little more to it than looking after a friend, even if he had probably saved her life. He began to wonder. What would Chuck have said?

  Steve dozed for a while and awoke to find the ankle swelling had reduced a little. When Janice realised he was awake, she changed the ice pack and asked if he’d like anything to eat or drink. Steve asked for coffee and she fair shot into the kitchen to make it. He smiled. When she came back with the coffee Steve asked her to turn on the TV for the lunchtime news.

  The local news channel was looping the story of Loan Company owner Ronnie Banks being found shot dead in the apartment over his office. His wife found semi-conscious on the floor beside him and two escaped murderers found bound and gagged in the Loan office.

  Captain Al Pueblo of the Chicago Police Dept. was interviewed and said that they were looking for person or persons unknown in connection with the death of Ronnie Banks and the assault on his wife. They had established no motive except that it may be gang related as no robbery had been committed. Steve smiled at this. The safe must still be locked.

  No witnesses had come forward and no-one suspicious had been seen in the area. He added that Amanda Banks had received hospital treatment for a minor head injury and was now in the care of relatives.

  Roderick Pearson Young and Dexter Webb, aka Pinky and Perky, had been taken to hospital where their injuries had been stated as very serious but no longer life threatening following emergency treatment performed by medics at the scene. They would be returned to prison to serve out their enhanced sentences within a few days.

  Steve was pleased they hadn’t died. Janice leaned over and kissed him on the cheek and said thanks. He blushed slightly. That night his ankle was much better with the swelling reducing well. Not safe to stand on yet, perhaps that would be okay in the morning. Janice had kept the kids away from him for a number of reasons but the main one being she wanted him rested.

  When the kids had been in bed a few hours she came over to him and sat against him, perching on the edge of the sofa. She put her arm on his chest and snuggled against him for a few moments. She wanted this. Perhaps he wanted it too, or maybe it had just been a long time since he’d felt a woman’s tenderness. Anyway he let himself go as she prepared him for their journey together.

  She was careful with him, keeping him going for a while. She knew what she was doing. When they’d finished she collapsed on top of him and sobbed for a long time. Eventually she stopped crying, kissed him on the cheek and went to bed.

  When Steve awoke that morning at 7 a.m. the house was silent. He expected to hear the kids and then realised Janice would not have told them about the holiday yet. He lay there for a while, checked his ankle where the swelling had virtually gone. He would be able to stand on it now as long as he didn’t overdo it.

  About eight o’clock the house exploded into noise with the kids cheering. Janice had told them. The next two hours were bedlam but Steve just lay there smiling. He’d re-paid the debt of a friend, in full. She and the kids would be fine from now on. There would be a new place to live hopefully somewhere a long way away. No money worries any more. Steve would leave all the Loan Company money for her. All the other Loan Company victims at least would not have to pay any more money back so Steve’s actions had helped them as well. But his exit from this would be painful. His ankle would be okay but his heart may take a wrench.

  Steve hobbled to fetch the SUV at ten-thirty. Janice loaded a couple of big suitcases and some smaller bags. The kids carried a few books, toys and cuddly things. When they were all loaded Steve said ‘where would you like to go then?’

  Janice said ‘Florida, at least to start with, I could do with some sun.’ Steve smiled and headed for the interstate south from Chicago. He would leave the SUV empty and clean somewhere in Florida and let people know where it was. He’d mail the key back to O’Hare where he got it from. He’d then hire a car and go back to New York to his lock-up. He didn’t want to take the SUV up there. He didn’t want anyone getting too close to where his secret caches were, especially the CIA.

  All the gear would be stowed there maybe for another time. No need to involve Janice in any of this, but Steve vowed to himself that he would keep in touch in future.

  Chapter 11

  Los Angeles, California, late Spring 2012

  With the president comfortably seated and belted in, it only remained for his executive plane to receive formal consent to taxi to the main LAX runway.

  The Los Angeles International Airport airstrip had been clear for the last thirty minutes and any approaching aircraft were stacked and holding at least fifty miles away. Security, as ever, was very tight. Seemingly hoards of Government personnel of one persuasion or another were all over the airfield and its approaches like a rash. The F16 Squadron had been flying over in formation as always before presidential lift off. All signals were go.

  This specially modified Boeing 747-200B, designated by the Air Force as a VC-25, had a range just short of eight thousand miles and could re-fuel in mid-air. Technically it could stay aloft for ever if needed and could hold a hundred people of which a quarter would be crew.

  The Commander in Chief had spent an awkward day with Governor Collins of California and considering that they were both Republicans, their arguments on budget deficit and plans for growth were often heated and unhelpful. After all California was the eighth largest economy in the world and Collins wanted both recognition for this and his pound of flesh. Why couldn’t they sing from the same damn hymn sheet?

  The unfortunate airfield incident the previous evening with Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland had not been the best start to President Walker’s trip to the California, Hawaii and India. This ‘fly the flag’ tour was only just the start of his re-election and fund raising campaign.
If only he didn’t have to go to India now. There were too many more urgent things like the economy, and of course that bloody war in Afghanistan. While he was away people would play political games and he didn’t like that.

  Whilst it only took an hour or two to swap over planes last night with Air Force Two being in a constant state of readiness, it still delayed the start of the trip and with all timings nailed to the floor it jangled more than a few nerves. Not a good start by any means. Walker didn’t need any more stress particularly at the moment. His personal ratings were low enough as it was.

  Still the provisions delivery truck driver at Andrews Air Force Base would probably have been sacked by now. Bashing the president’s plane with a large truck was not recommended for long term employment. The cargo door wouldn’t shut properly afterwards and would require repair and a thorough check and they just didn’t have the time to wait. The president mused where on earth did they get their staff? Plain and simple gross negligence it was.

  Rani Desai, a Hindu and naturalised American citizen originally from Delhi, India, and a full time Airfield truck driver for the last few months wasn’t sacked but was severely reprimanded. He complained of faulty brakes or steering and just about kept his job.

  ‘Sir, the Secretary of State would like to speak to you.’

  ‘Not now Jane, give me ten more minutes and a large scotch would you’ said President Walker in a weary voice. ‘How long is it to take off?’

  ‘We’re just about to go now’ said Jane Morris, the president’s personal assistant, or slave as she privately called it.

  ‘Okay, tell him I’ll call him back when we’re up and away’

  That would be the first conversation and then it would be into a queue of briefing meetings. No rest for the wicked.

  Air Force One taxied to the runway, received clearance and rumbled away gathering speed until the Captain heard the call to rotate. The yoke was pulled back and the plane lifted into the night air on its way to Hawaii. The president settled into his scotch and thought he’d have about ten more minutes to relax. The Squadron of F16s took up formation and followed Air Force One to the west. They’d turn back after five hundred miles.

  Chapter 12

  Baltimore, Maryland, 2000

  In the autumn of 2000, two particular Indian students arrived at La Guardia Airport, New York via San Francisco and New Delhi, India. They had flown to America courtesy of an International Student Exchange Programme and had been found places at the Baltimore University in Maryland. They were met by agents of the scheme along with many others who had arrived in the last day or so and were given a day’s lecture on America, its education system and a long list of basic rules including many dos and don’ts. Once that was over they were transported back to the Airport for the internal flight to Baltimore.

  They were greeted by student representatives on arrival at Baltimore Airport and transported to the campus. On reaching the campus they were registered and shown their accommodation. After they had freshened up they were given a guided tour of the campus and its facilities. Some twenty per cent of undergraduates at the University were of Asian descent so the new recruits did not feel out of place. They were about to start the American Dream. They also had another mission which to them was far more important.

  They were known as Rani and Dado Desai who were non-identical twins from New Delhi in India and of the Hindu faith. Rani, who was the eldest by just a few minutes, would study Languages and Economics and Dado would study Aeronautical Engineering. Needless to say they both worked hard on their respective courses obtaining good marks along the way. This seemed to be a common trait with people from some Asian nations and, as it was not out of the ordinary, it aroused no suspicions.

  Their parents had told them to let loose a little, act like students, act like the other students. Get drunk, chase girls, be messy. Of course, all this went badly against the grain of their much stricter, more respectful upbringing but nevertheless they tried to fit in as and when possible.

  The boys were relatively athletic by nature and joined in on a number of the University’s sporting activities. It was important that they never quite made the grade in any of the sports they participated in but it was necessary that they took part.

  By the end of 2003 they had their respective degrees, and had both applied for and got their Work Permits and had started on their quest for American Citizenship. That was their key objective, Citizenship. It would take at least five years and maybe as much as ten, but they would work hard, keep their noses clean and the time would fly by. After all there was a lot at stake.

  After graduation Rani was initially unsure where he should look for work and got what he hoped was a temporary job at McDonald’s in Silver Spring, Maryland and Dado was taken on in a low tech, almost dogsbody role at Grange Engineering in Bethesda. These seemed appropriate if not demeaning jobs for immigrant labour despite their qualifications which was a problem the world over.

  They rented and shared a small two bedroomed apartment which was situated roughly equidistant between their places of employment and embarked upon the American Dream. They drank beer and ventured out to clubs and discos, and ate popcorn at the movies. It was important they blend in.

  After several months at McDonalds, Rani was offered a job with a local catering company having been referred to them by a work colleague. There was slightly better money and the use of a company van. The big bonus was that the catering company served Andrews Air Force Base. It was said that Armies, and Air Forces, marched on their stomachs. Food and supplies deliveries were very important and it came as no surprise that after a few weeks he was rarely checked in or out of the main supplies gate to the base.

  In the meantime Dado was making a name for himself at Grange Engineering who did a myriad of specialist work for the smaller aircraft companies. A couple of years after he’d started there, a small but very welcome project came in from Boeing and he was made assistant lead engineer. This was quite a promotion for someone who’d begun his career in such a lowly position but he had worked very hard, as they both had, and his employers were very pleased with his effort, ability and desire to advance his prospects. His brother was immensely pleased for him and they had a small celebration. It was just another step on their way.

  After only a few months on the project he had to go to Boeing’s manufacturing facility in Washington State. He was only there a couple of days on the first trip, but he was liked and respected by the Boeing people and became a frequent visitor over the remaining life of the project.

  At least partly due to Dado’s efforts, that project became another and then more until he was promoted again and again and ended up running a number of small engineering teams specifically for Boeing.

  Dado was so well thought of at Boeing that he thought they might offer him a job, but no, in the early months of 2009 just after they had both been granted American Citizenship, they asked for him to be seconded to a special development team working at Andrews Air Force Base. He didn’t bother to ask why he’d been chosen, he perhaps knew that, but he was more than grateful for the challenge and opportunity, and after all this was just another step up the ladder.

  In the meantime Rani’s career had also been on the up and up. He had already got the full time job working for the catering company supplying into Andrews Air Force Base. He spent the next few years driving a truck delivering food, supplies and equipment all over the place but increasingly around the huge air force base.

  After he and his brother were awarded American Citizenship he applied to join the Catering Corps at Andrews and with a bit of good fortune along the way was given the air base equivalent of his previous job.

  While driving around the base he saw the two specially prepared Boeing 747s frequently. He occasionally drove a little too close to them and received the full treatment from the Special Forces personnel permanently on-hand to deal with anyone who just got that little bit too near. He would laugh and tell his brother. His bro
ther, always the serious one would tell him to be more careful.

  Rani was intrigued by the guys who drove those strange looking airfield trucks, towing fuel bowsers and aircraft steps and luggage and equipment trolleys. He’d like to do that. He’d talk it over with his brother. It might come in handy one day.

  As you would expect they had both been severely vetted by the CIA and the Military. Not a thing showed up. Their background in India had been well documented from birth and through their quality education. They had been normal kids from a normal family doing normal things. Nothing came up on the radar at all. The family were obviously quite well off as they spent a lot of time on holiday away from school and college. That was deemed inconsequential.

  Their apartment was surreptitiously searched while they were out at work, but there was nothing incriminating there. The brothers knew that someone had been in there and probably knew who. Their bank accounts were clean, no odd credits or debits, just their salaries and their expenditure. No loans, no nothing.

  By the summer of 2010 Rani was on the periphery of an Airfield trucking job and Dado was ensconced in serious development work on the experimental internal airflow and air conditioning for the presidential 747s, Air Force One and Air Force Two.

  Chapter 13